The Farr Side: Newton-John belongs in Hall of Fame

Thursday

Aug 22, 2019 at 8:06 AM

News that Olivia Newton-John’s cancer had returned for a third time broke my heart. It was reported late last week she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.

The English-Australian singer, songwriter, actress, entrepreneur, philanthropist and activist has enjoyed a massive career since the early 1970s, placing 15 singles into the top 10, with five reaching No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100. She has also sold more than 100 million albums, making her one of the world’s best-selling artists of all time.

Here’s where I get a little upset. How can an artist like that not be inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame? Why the wait?

Olivia Newton-John is worthy for a Hall of Fame nomination for her starring role as Sandra Dee from the iconic Hollywood musical film “Grease,” whose soundtrack is one of the most successful in history. The music is every bit as popular today as it was when the film came out in 1978. “Hopelessly Devoted To You,” along with “Summer Nights” and “You’re The That I Want,” both with John Travolta, exploded.

She’s an artist who has dominated country, pop/rock and Top 40 radio formats for decades.

We tend to glorify artists like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood for their music contributions, but long before it was cool to cross over genres, Olivia was doing it.

Being the ONJ fan I am, I’m as up on her early country music career as I’m all over her massive pop classics.

Newton-John scored big on the country charts with “If Not For You,” “Let Me Be There,” “If You Love Me (Let Me Know) and “I Honestly Love You,” all before 1974. Those songs also got traction on the pop chart.

She earned American Music Awards for Favorite Country Female and Favorite Pop/Rock Female for both 1974 and 1975. She topped heavy hitters like Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell and Tammy Wynette. That’s a huge accomplishment right there. Swift, Underwood, Shania Twain, Martina McBride ... no one else can claim that kind of appeal and probably no one will again.

She went on to receive multiple awards for Best Album, Favorite Vocalists and Best Song. She was and still is a star. Songs like “Have You Never Been Mellow,” “Please Mr. Please” and “Sam” continued her streak.

Everything changed with “Grease.” She lit up the big screen and totally became a world-wide superstar. The movie musical quickly became a hit and to this day is still a hit.

Still don’t think she’s Hall of Fame worthy? What about her string of 80s hits like “A Little More Love,” “Deeper Than The Night,” “Xanadu,” “Make A Move On Me,” “Heart Attack,” “Twist Of Fate,” “Livin’ In Desperate Times” and the No. 1′s “Magic” and “Physical.” “Physical” stayed on top for an amazing 10 weeks.

This in only an inkling of what Olivia Newton-John has accomplished. It’s impressive, which is why it bothers me that she’s not in the Hall. If you’re reading this and you have the power, by all means, get her nominated.David T. Farr can be reached at farrboy@hotmail.com.

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